Method of using a portable nested cook-set

ABSTRACT

A portable nested cook-set includes a cook pot having a pot sidewall with a retention projection and defining an upwardly opening pot interior chamber, a press-pot piston having a piston sidewall and a lower end portion defining an upwardly opening piston interior chamber, and a storage container having an exterior portion and a selectively sealable interior storage chamber. The piston sidewall has a sidewall opening and a retention notch positioned to removably receive the retention projection therein. The press-pot piston sidewall is dimensioned to be selectively storable at least partially within the cook pot. The storage container having an exterior portion with a lower portion dimensioned to be selectively storable at least partially within the piston interior chamber. The storage container and the press-pot piston being releasably threaded together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to providing a nestedcook-set for use in activities such as back-packing or camping thatprovides superior functionality over conventional nested cook-sets whiletaking up less space in a user's backpack or other storage containerthan known conventional elements that provide similar functionality.

Description of the Related Art

Certain known conventional portable cook pots utilize a “French press,”also known as a press pot, coffee press, or coffee plunger, accessory asa simple coffee brewing device. Typically, such an accessory includes ametal or plastic lid for fitting over the top of the cook pot with aplunger disposed in a hole in the center of the lid and movable relativethereto. A lower mesh filter is affixed to a lower end of the plungerand fits tightly within interior of the cook pot. Coffee is brewed byheating water in the cook pot to approximately 93-96 degrees Celsius(200-205 degrees Fahrenheit) and adding a proportional amount of groundcoffee to the heated water. The liquid is then allowed to brew (orsteep) for approximately four to twenty minutes. The plunger is thendepressed, causing the mesh filter to move the grounds to the bottom ofthe cook pot while the liquid is allowed to pass freely upward throughthe filter. The liquid may then be poured into a serving or storagecontainer. If the brewed coffee is allowed to remain in the cook potwith the used grounds, the brewed coffee can become astringent andbitter, and will cool quickly. Thus, if the brewed coffee is not to bedrunk until later, a separate insulated storage container is required.One such storage container that is desirable for use in a backpacking orcamping environment is a vacuum bottle or vacuum flask. A vacuum bottleis an insulating storage vessel that greatly lengthens the time overwhich its contents remain hotter or cooler than the vacuum bottle'ssurroundings. A conventional vacuum bottle consists of an outer body andan inner liner, one within the other and joined at the neck. The gapbetween the outer body and inner liner is partially evacuated of air,creating a near-vacuum which significantly reduces heat transfer byconduction or convection. Vacuum bottles are used domestically to keepbeverages hot or cold for extended periods of time.

Unfortunately, using these conventional approaches for brewing coffeeinvolves a cook pot/press-pot combination having a plunger-style press,wherein the pressing element is moved relative to the cook pot via anaxial plunging rod that extends from the center of the pressing elementupwards to the opening of the cook pot, and an insulated storagecontainer such as a vacuum bottle. Thus, conventionally, in order for auser to have a cook pot, a press-pot, and a sealable storage container,the user would need to carry and store several separate items ofsignificant volume, which presents a problem for back-packing andcamping where storage space is limited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a portable nested cook-set havinga cook pot with a foldable handle, a press-pot piston nested within thecook pot, and a vacuum bottle nested within the press-pot piston,embodying certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the nested cook-set of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a front exploded perspective view of the nested cook-set ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a front elevational view of the cook pot of FIG. 1 with thefoldable handle in a closed position.

FIG. 4B is a front perspective view of the cook pot of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A is a front elevational view of the press-pot piston of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5B is a front perspective view of the press-pot piston of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a front elevational view of the vacuum bottle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6B is a front perspective view of the vacuum bottle of FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the cook pot of FIG. 1 being usedin a first step of a method of using the nested cook-set to make coffee,showing water being heated and the handle in an opened position.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the cook pot of FIG. 1 being usedin a second step of the method of using the nested cook-set to makecoffee, showing ground coffee being poured into the cook pot from itsstorage in the vacuum bottle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the cook pot of FIG. 1 being usedin a third step of the method of using the nested cook-set to makecoffee, showing the press-pot piston of FIG. 1 being inserted into thecook pot.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the cook pot of FIG. 1 in a finalposition of the third step of the method of using the nested cook-set tomake coffee, showing the press-pot piston fully inserted into the cookpot and forcing the ground coffee to the bottom of the cook pot.

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the cook pot and fully inserted press-potpiston of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the cook pot of FIG. 1 being usedin a fourth step of the method of using the nested cook-set to makecoffee, showing the press-pot piston fully inserted into the cook potand holding the ground coffee to the bottom of the cook pot while thecook pot is tilted to pour the brewed coffee drink in the cook pot intothe vacuum bottle.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the vacuum bottle and thepress-pot piston in a first step of a method of re-assembling the nestedcook-set of FIG. 1, showing the vacuum bottle in position to be insertedinto the press-pot piston.

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the vacuum bottle, press-potpiston and cook pot in a second step of the method of re-assembling thenested cook-set of FIG. 1, showing the vacuum bottle fully inserted intopress-pot piston and the combination in position to be inserted into thecook pot.

FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of the vacuum bottle, press-potpiston and cook pot in the final position of the method of re-assemblingthe nested cook-set of FIG. 1, showing the nested cook-set fullyre-assembled and ready for storage and transport in a compactarrangement.

FIG. 16 is front perspective view of an alternative portable nestedcook-set having a cook pot with a foldable handle, a vacuum bottlenested within the cook pot and an eating utensil retained by a supportclip, embodying certain aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a front exploded elevational view of the alternative nestedcook-set of FIG. 16, showing the vacuum bottle separated from the cookpot.

FIG. 18 is a front exploded perspective view of the alternative nestedcook-set of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a front exploded perspective view of the alternative nestedcook-set of FIG. 17, showing the utensil separated from the supportclip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings,discusses illustrative embodiments of an inventive concept, specificallya portable nested cook-set defined by a portable cook pot having one ormore cooperating food or beverage preparation and/or food or beveragestorage elements nested therein, such as a press-pot piston and/or astorage container, such as a specifically adapted vacuum bottle. Thisdetailed description is provided to give persons having ordinary skillin the relevant art a full, clear, concise, and exact description ofthis inventive concept, and to enable such persons to appreciate andunderstand how to make and use embodiments of the conceptual portablenested cook-set, including not only the explicitly describedillustrative embodiments but also, by inference and implication, allother embodiments that fall within the scope of the inventive concept,despite those embodiments not being explicitly described below.

Certain aspects of the conceptual portable nested cook-set are definedby a cook pot, having a pot sidewall having a retention projection anddefining an upwardly opening pot interior chamber, a press-pot pistonhaving a piston sidewall and a bottom side defining an upwardly openingpiston interior chamber, and a storage container having an exteriorportion and a selectively sealable interior storage chamber. Thepress-pot piston has an open top end, a bottom side having a bottomopening with a screen disposed therein, and the sidewall has a sidewallopening and a retention notch positioned to removably receive theretention projection therein. The press-pot piston sidewall has an outersurface dimensioned to be selectively storable at least partially withinthe pot interior chamber. A sealing ring extends about the outer surfacethe piston sidewall, between the sidewall opening and the bottomopening. The piston sidewall also has interior threading and the storagecontainer has an exterior portion having a lower portion dimensioned tobe selectively storable at least partially within the piston interiorchamber, the exterior portion having threading threadably engageablewith the interior threading of the piston sidewall.

Among the several advantages of the conceptual portable nested cook-set,as will be discussed in greater detail herein with respect to thepresently described embodiments, is that a user may disassemble theelements of the cook-set, prepare and consume food or a beverage such ascoffee, tea, etc. using the cook pot and the press-pot piston, ifdesired, decant any remaining food or beverage into the storagecontainer, seal the storage container, and then reassemble the storagecontainer, press-pot piston and cook pot into a single unit forconvenient and compact storage and transportation. As is describedbelow, the press-pot may be adapted to be utilized as a “traditionalFrench-press” and/or as a “reverse French-press.”

Turning now to the presently described non-limiting, first exemplaryembodiment of the conceptual portable nested cook-set and theaccompanying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates such a portable nestedcook-set, generally indicated by reference numeral 100. The cook-set 100includes a cook pot 104 having an open upper end 106, a generallycylindrical body 108 and a tapered thermally conductive base 112. Afoldable handle 116 is affixed to the side of the cook pot body 108. Thecook pot body 108 has an upper portion 118 formed with a spout 120 and alip 122 for supporting a press-pot piston 124 when the press-pot pistonis positioned within the cook pot body 108 and extending upward throughthe open upper end 106 of the cook pot. As is described in more detailbelow, a plurality of inwardly projecting retention projections 126project into the interior of cook pot 104 for selectively locking thepress-pot piston 124 within the cook pot 104. The retention projections126 are formed in the upper portion 118 of the cook pot, at a locationbelow the lip 122. As shown in FIG. 3, the press-pot piston 124 has agenerally cylindrical body 125 and an open upper end 127 which is sizedto receive a lower portion 129 of a vacuum bottle 128 in the body 125and extending upward through the open upper end 127. The vacuum bottle128 has an inner cup 130 and an outer cup 132 removably attachedthereto. The press-pot piston 124 is selectively positionable within thecook pot 104, and the vacuum bottle 128 is selectively positionablewithin the press pot piston 124, all in concentric, coaxial nestedarrangement along a common axis, for storage and carrying of theportable nested cook-set 100.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the nesting relationship of the cook pot 104,the press-pot piston 124, and the vacuum bottle 128. The cook pot 104may be any size that is suitable for its intended purpose. For example,various backpacking cook pots, which must balance cooking capacityagainst the amount of space the cook pot takes up when not in use,typically have interior volumes ranging from half a quart to two quarts.The cook pot 104 may be similar to a conventional camping cook pot interms of its general structure and function and may be made of anysuitable material, i.e., a material that is relatively strong,lightweight, thermally conductive, and resistive to heat and corrosion,typically metal, for example aluminum, stainless steel, or titanium. Thepress-pot piston 124 is dimensioned to fit snuggly within the interiorof the cook pot 104, to receive the lower portion 129 of the vacuumbottle 128 within the body 125 of the press-pot, and to allow the properfunctioning of the press-pot, as is described below. The press-potpiston 124 may be made using any suitable material and manufacturingmethod, such as injection molded plastic. An upper portion 134 of thepress-pot piston 124 has an annular rim portion 136 defining the openupper end 127 of the press-pot piston with an interior sidewall 138having interior threads 140 for threadably engaging with exterior treads142 on a lower neck portion 144 of the vacuum bottle 128 and therebyselectively detachably securing the vacuum bottle within the press-potpiston. The vacuum bottle 128 may be similar to a conventional vacuumbottle with respect to its interior structure and function while beingadvantageously dimensioned along its lower portion 129 such that it maynest within press-pot piston 124.

As is also described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 7through 15, a user may remove the vacuum bottle 128 from withinpress-pot piston 124 and then remove the press-pot piston from withinthe cook pot 104. The cook pot 104 may then be filled with water orother fluid and exposed to heat, such as by placing the cook pot on aconventional camping stove or other source of flame or heat. When thecontents of cook pot 104 have reached a sufficient temperature, the usermay elect to add food material such as tea leaves or ground coffee beansto the fluid in the cook pot 104. Steeping in the fluid within cook pot104 will cause the food material to impart flavor and other desirablecharacteristics to the fluid. The user may then use the press-pot piston124 to filter out the food material, e.g. by forcing it to an interiorbottom portion 146 of the cook pot 104 (as shown in FIG. 10) locatedbetween a lower end portion 148 of the press-pot piston 124 and aninterior bottom wall 150 of the cook pot 104. The strained liquid maythen be poured out of cook pot 104, for instance into the vacuum bottle128, or into the inner cup 130 and/or the outer cup 132 of the vacuumbottle, while the food material remains in the cook pot 104, trappedbelow the lower end portion 148 of the press-pot piston 124. Theportable nested cook-set 100 may then be reassembled into theconfiguration shown in FIG. 1 for transportation and storage.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate aspects of cook pot 104. The bottom diameterof tapered base 112 of the cook pot 104 may advantageously be selectedto be compatible with one or more commercially available backpackingstoves or other standard heat sources (e.g., see FIG. 8). The height ofthe cook pot body 108 may then be chosen based on the diameter of thebase 112 and the desired interior volume, as well as with considerationto the other components of the combination cook-set 100, i.e., thepress-pot piston and vacuum bottle. The handle 116 is affixed to thebody 108 adjacent to the open upper end 106 of the cook pot 104. Tofacilitate safe handling and pouring of the cook pot 104 and itscontents, the handle 116 may advantageously be affixed to the body 108at a location approximately 90 degrees laterally offset from the spout120. The handle 116 is movable between, and automatically lockable in, afolded position, as is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and an open position,as is shown in FIG. 8. The retention projections 126 of the body 108project inwardly and cooperate with retention notches 152 formed in theupper portion 134 of the press-pot piston 124 at locations just belowthe annular rim portion 136 and described in greater detail below (asshown in FIGS. 5a and 5B) to selectively, detachably secure thepress-pot piston inside cook pot 104.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate aspects of the press-pot piston 124. Thepress-pot piston 124 is formed with a lower portion 154, having atapered exterior generally matching the interior tapering of the taperedbase 112 of the cook pot 104. As is best illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11,a plurality of screened openings 156 are formed in the lower end portion148 of the press-pot piston 124, each screened opening having afiltering screen 158 spanning across the screened opening, such as athin nylon mesh. In use, the filtering screen 158 serves theconventional role of allowing fluid to pass through the screened openingwhile preventing food material from passing through as the press-potpiston is moved downward through the cook pot 104 towards the base 112.

The retention notches 152 are L-shaped and each define a downwardlyoriented opening 152 a leading to an upwardly extending access channel152 b. A locking channel 152 c extends circumferentially from the accesschannel 152 b. A longitudinal side of the locking channel 152 c has aninwardly curved lip 159, decreasing the width of the locking channel atthe interface with the access channel 152 b. The retention notches 152work cooperatively with the inwardly projecting retention projections126 of the cook pot 104 to selectively lock press-pot piston 124 withinthe interior of the cook pot. Advantageously, the inwardly curved lip159 causes the width of the locking channel 152 c to be less than thewidth of the retention projection 126 at the locking channel's interfacewith the access channel 152 b, and to be greater than the width of theretention projection at a close end portion 152 d of the locking channelspaced away from the interface.

As is best seen in FIG. 2, the upper portion 134 of the press-pot piston124 having the retention notches 152 formed therein is dimensioned tofit within the interior of the upper portion 118 of the cook pot 104,and the annular rim portion 136 of the press-pot piston 124 isdimensioned to rest on top of the lip 122 of the cook pot.

Also shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a frame 160 extends between the lower andupper portions 154 and 134, respectively, of the press-pot piston 124.The frame 160 is formed with a plurality of side openings 162. Below theside openings 162 and above the lower end portion 148 of the press-potpiston 124, an annular sealing ring 164 encircles the outercircumference of the frame 160 at a location above tapered exterior ofthe lower portion 154 of the press-pot piston 124. In use, as isdescribed in more detail below with reference to FIG. 10, the annularsealing ring 164 and the screened opening 156 divide the interior of thecook pot 104 into an unfiltered volume outside of the press-pot piston124 below the annular sealing ring and a filtered volume inside of thepress-pot piston and outside of the press-pot piston above the annularsealing ring. In use, as the press-pot piston 124 is moved downwardthrough the fluid in the cook pot 104 toward the base 112 of the cookpot, the side openings 162 permit the filtered fluid inside of thepress-pot piston to flow freely to the outside of the press-pot pistonabove the annular sealing ring.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the vacuum bottle 128. The vacuum bottle 128includes a cylindrical body 166 with the lower portion 129 thereofdimensioned to extend through the open upper end 127 of the press-potpiston 124 and fit somewhat snuggly within its interior, with a lowerend of the vacuum bottle adjacent to the inner side of the lower endportion 148 of the press-pot piston and the threads 142 of the lowerneck portion 144 of the vacuum bottle threadably engaging the threads140 of the interior surface 138 of the annular rim portion 136 of thepress-pot piston. An upper portion 168 of the vacuum bottle 128 isdimensioned to correspond to the relatively larger outer diameter of theannular rim portion 136 of the press-pot piston 124 and of the lip 122of the cook pot 104. Now referring also to FIG. 2, the upper portion 168of the vacuum bottle 128 extends between the threaded lower neck portion144 and an upper threaded neck portion 170 having exterior threads 172.The inner cup 130 is removably attached to the vacuum bottle 128 usingthreads 172 by complementary interior threads 174 formed on an innersidewall 176 of the inner cup 130. The outer cup 132 may be removablyattached to the inner cup 130 using an inner lip 178 formed on an innersidewall 180 of the outer cup which is snap fitted to an outer lip 182formed on an outer sidewall 184 of the inner cup. A removable cap 186selectively seals a top opening of the vacuum bottle 128 which providesaccess to the vacuum bottle's interior.

FIGS. 7 through 15 illustrate in greater detail a preferred method ofoperation of the portable nested cook-set 100 described above withreference to FIGS. 1 through 6B. Referring to FIG. 7, after removing thepress-pot piston 124 and the vacuum bottle 128 from the cook pot 104, auser may move the cook pot's handle 116 to the open position, where itautomatically locks in place. The user may then fill the cook pot with afluid, typically water, and place the cook pot over a heat source, suchas a conventional back-packing stove 188 or an open flame. The user maythen let the contents of cook pot 104 heat to a sufficient temperaturefor the intended purpose, such as just below boiling.

Referring now to FIG. 8, if the user desires to make a steeped beveragesuch as coffee or tea, the user may then remove the cook pot 104 fromthe heating source and pour an appropriate amount of food material 190such as coffee or tea into the cook pot. The food material 190 shouldthen be allowed to steep in the heated water, imparting flavor and otherproperties thereto. If desired, the food material 190 may be carried inthe vacuum bottle 128 premeasured as the amount desired for one use ofthe cook pot 104 to avoid the need to carry a separate container for thefood material.

Referring now to FIG. 9, after allowing the heated water and foodmaterial 190 to steep for an appropriate period of time, the user mayposition the press-pot piston 124 over the open upper end 106 of thecook pot 104, and then insert the lower portion 154 of the press-potpiston into the open upper end of the cook pot.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, the user should next gradually pressdownward on the press-pot piston 124, allowing the lower end portion 148of the press-pot piston, the filtering screens 158, and annular sealingring 164 to push the food material 190 within the fluid in the cook pot104 towards the base 112 of cook pot. The filtering screens 158 eachhave a plurality of apertures 158 a (some being shown enlarged in FIG.11 for purposes of illustration) which permit fluid to flow through thefiltering screen into the filtered volume inside of the press-pot piston124 as well as then through the side openings 162 to the outside of thepress-pot piston above the annular sealing ring 164, while blocking themovement of the food material 190. Generally, the press-pot piston ismoved to position the lower end portion 148 of the press-pot piston 124adjacent to the base 112 of the cook pot 104, trapping the food material190 trapped therebetween.

Referring now to FIG. 12, the user may then pour the filtered fluid 192of cook pot 115804 into a container, such as the vacuum-bottle 128, theinner cup 130, the outer cup 132, and/or any other suitable container.As the filtered fluid 192 is poured, the openings 162 in press-pot frame160 permit the filtered fluid inside of the press-pot piston 124 to flowoutward to the space between the press-pot piston and interior wall ofthe cook pot 104, and then to the spout 122 of the cook pot.

The press-pot piston 124 may then be removed from the cook pot 104 andcleaned. Referring now to FIG. 13, the vacuum bottle 128 can then beinserted into press-pot piston 124 and secured therein via cooperativethreads 140 and 142 on the interior sidewall 138 of the annular rimportion 136 of the press-pot piston and the lower neck portion 144 ofthe vacuum bottle, respectively, as shown in FIG. 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, with or without the vacuum bottle 128secured within the press-pot piston 124, the press-pot piston can beinserted into and secured within cook pot 104. The lower end portion 148of the press-pot piston 124 is first inserted into the open upper end106 of the cook pot 104. The openings 152 a of the retention notches 152on the upper portion 134 of the press-pot piston 124 are aligned withinwardly projecting retention projections 126 on the interior of thebody 108 of the cook pot 104, and the press-pot piston is moveddownwards relative to the cook pot such that retention projections passinto and through the access channel 152 b of the corresponding retentionnotch and are positioned at the beginning of the locking channel 152 cfor the corresponding retention notch. The press-pot piston 124 can thenbe twisted relative to cook pot 104 such that each retention projection126 will be urged to move circumferentially through the locking channel152 c of the corresponding retention notch 152. If sufficient twistingforce is applied, the retention projection 126 will elastically deformthe inwardly curved lip 159 of locking channels 152 c. After thepress-pot piston 124 rotates sufficiently for the retention projection126 to pass by the inwardly curved lip 159 and enter the portion oflocking channels 152 c having a width greater than the width of theretention projection, the deformed lip 159 of locking channel 152 c willreturn to its original configuration and releasably retain the press-potpiston in position within the cook pot. Interference between retentionprojections 126 and the inwardly curved lips 159 of the locking channelwill prevent longitudinal and reverse rotational movement of press-potpiston (and vacuum bottle, if present) relative to cook pot, unlesssufficient rotational force is applied to cause the retentionprojections to deform the inwardly curved lips located between thelocking channels and the access channels.

The order of reassembly of the component parts of the combination cookpot 100 may be reversed if desired.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the inventive concept have been described herein forpurposes of illustration, various modifications to both the describedapparatus and its method of use may be made without deviating from thespirit and scope of the conceptual portable nested cook-set. Forinstance, FIGS. 16 through 19 illustrate a second non-limiting,exemplary embodiment of the conceptual portable nested cook-set,indicated generally by reference numeral 200. Referring to FIG. 16, thepresent combination cook pot 200 includes a cook pot 202 havingsubstantially the same construction as cook pot 104 described above,with a generally cylindrical body 204 and a tapered, thermallyconductive base 206. A foldable handle 208 may be affixed to the side ofthe body 204 of the cook pot. The cook pot 202 may also be formed with alip 210 for supporting a vacuum bottle 212. As is described in greaterdetail below, the vacuum bottle 212 is formed with a utensil clip 214,has a removable bowl 216 attached thereto, and is removably nestedwithin the cook pot 202. A utensil 218 may optionally be retained by theutensil clip 214.

FIGS. 17 and 18 better illustrate the nesting relationship of the cookpot 202 and the vacuum bottle 212. As with the cook pot 104 describedabove with reference to FIGS. 1-15, the cook pot 202 may be any size andmade from any material that is suitable for its intended purpose. Thebottom diameter of the tapered base 206 may advantageously be selectedto be compatible with one or more commercially available backpackingstoves or other standard heat sources (not shown). The height of thebody 204 of the cook pot may then be chosen based on the diameter of thebase 206 and the desired interior volume, as well as with considerationto the other components of the combination cook pot, i.e. the vacuumbottle.

Opposite the base 206, the cook pot 202 has an upper portion 220defining an open top 222 formed with a lip 224 around its circumference.The lip 224 acts to support the vacuum bottle 212. Adjacent to the opentop 222, a handle 226 may advantageously be affixed to the body 204. Inthe same manner as is explained above in reference to FIGS. 2 and 8, thehandle 226 may advantageously be movable between, and selectivelylockable in a folded position and in an open position. The body 204 isalso formed with inwardly projecting retention projections 228. Thevacuum bottle 212 may be similar to a conventional vacuum bottle interms of its interior structure and function while being advantageouslydimensioned such that it may nest coaxially within the cook pot 202.Unlike a conventional vacuum bottle, and as is described in more detailabove with regard to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-15, the vacuumbottle 212 includes a lower neck portion 230 formed with retentionnotches 232 for cooperating with the complementary retention projections228 of the body 204 of the cook pot 202. The retention projections 228cooperate with the retention notches 232 formed in the vacuum bottle 212to selectively lock the vacuum bottle within the cook pot 202, in thesame manner described above.

In use, a user may remove the vacuum bottle 212 from within the cook pot202. The cook pot 202 may then be used to prepare food in a conventionalmanner. The unprepared food may be carried in the vacuum bottle 212 andat the time food preparation is to occur, emptied into the cook pot 202.Once the food is prepared in the cook pot 202, the prepared food maythen be poured out of the cook pot, for instance, into the vacuum bottle212, the bowl 216, and/or any other suitable container. The cook-set 200may then be reassembled for transportation and storage.

As another example, in an alternative, non-illustrated usage of the cookpot 104 of FIGS. 1-15, the combination cook pot 100 may be used as areverse French-press. To do so, the user would heat fluid in the cookpot 104 in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 7.The user would then, prior to adding any food material, insert thepress-pot piston 124 into the cook pot 104 in the same manner asdescribed above with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. The user may then addthe food material 208 to the press-pot piston and allow the material tosteep in the heated fluid. After an appropriate amount of time, the usermay then withdraw the press-pot piston from the cook pot. Steeped,heated liquid will flow through apertures in the screened openings 156in the lower end portion 148 of the press-pot piston and remain in thecook pot while the food material will be trapped within the press-potpiston and captured at the bottom of the press-pot piston by the screens158. The user may then pour the contents of the cook pot into acontainer, such as the vacuum bottle 128, the inner cup 130, the outercup 132, or any other suitable container.

Accordingly, the conceptual combination cook pot is not limited exceptas by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of using a nestable cook-sethaving a cook pot with a pot sidewall and a pot lower end defining anupwardly opening pot interior chamber, a press-pot piston adapted to beselectively stored within the cook pot and having a piston sidewall anda piston lower end portion defining an upwardly opening piston interiorchamber, the piston lower end portion having a lower end portion openingwith a screen spanning the piston lower end portion opening and thepiston sidewall having a sidewall opening, a sealing ring extendingabout the outer surface of the piston sidewall between the sidewallopening and the piston lower end portion opening, and a storagecontainer adapted to be selectively stored within the piston interiorchamber and defining a selectively sealable interior storage chamber,the method comprising: removing the storage container from the press-potpiston; removing the press-pot piston from the pot interior chamber cookpot; heating a fluid in the cook pot; adding food material to the cookpot; inserting the piston lower end portion into the pot interiorchamber, thereby dividing the pot interior chamber into an unfilteredsection below the piston lower end portion opening containing the foodmaterial and a filtered section above the piston lower end portionopening, wherein the screen spanning the piston lower end portionopening permits fluid communication between the unfiltered section andthe filtered section but inhibits passage of the food material with thefluid; moving the press-pot piston downward relative to the cook potwithin the pot interior chamber to position the piston lower end portionadjacent to the pot lower end and cause fluid in the unfiltered sectionof the cook pot to pass through the screen and into the filteredsection; decanting the fluid in the filtered section from the potinterior chamber into the interior storage chamber of the storagecontainer; sealing the interior storage chamber of the storagecontainer; storing the press-pot piston in the pot interior chamber; andstoring said storage container in the piston interior chamber.
 2. Amethod of using a nestable cook-set having a cook pot with a potsidewall defining an upwardly opening pot interior chamber, a press-potpiston adapted to be selectively stored within the cook pot and having apiston sidewall and a piston lower end portion defining an upwardlyopening piston interior chamber, the piston lower end portion having alower end portion opening with a screen spanning the piston lower endportion opening and the piston sidewall having a sidewall opening, asealing ring extending about the outer surface of the piston sidewallbetween the sidewall opening and the piston lower opening, and a storagecontainer adapted to be selectively stored within the piston interiorchamber and defining a selectively sealable interior storage chamber,the method comprising: removing the storage container from the press-potpiston; heating a fluid in the cook pot; adding food material to thepiston interior chamber; moving the press-pot piston upward relative tothe cook pot within the pot interior chamber to cause fluid in thepiston interior chamber to pass through the screen and the food materialto be collected by the screen; removing the press-pot piston from thecook pot; decanting the fluid from the pot interior chamber into theinterior storage chamber of the storage container; sealing the interiorstorage chamber of the storage container; storing the press-pot pistonin the pot interior chamber; and storing the storage container in thepiston interior chamber.